Election process in Turkey officially begins today

The election process for the general elections to be held on June 12, 2011 in Turkey officially began on Monday, March 14, the Supreme Board of Election (YSK) announced, Anadolu News Agency reported.

The board said lists for neighborhood units, which will be made public on March 18, will be available until March 31.

Once voter lists are clear, voter information cards will be prepared and they will be distributed to electors starting from April 24. The final lists of deputy candidates of political parties and independent candidates will be announced as of April 29.

Election process will start at customs gates on May 10.

Election propaganda will take start and restrictions to be implemented during the election process will take effect as of June 2.

Propaganda speeches will be aired on radio and TV channels starting from June 5 and the propaganda period will be over as of 6 p.m. on June 11. Millions of Turkish voters will go to ballot boxes to elect their administrators on June 12.

Turkish people will elect 550 lawmakers in parliamentary elections.

Latest parliamentary election was held on July 22, 2007. AK Party won 2007 elections, gaining 46.5% of national votes and collecting 341 seats in the 550-member parliament. Republican People's Party (CHP) came the second, winning 20.8% of votes and 112 seats in the parliament. Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) collected 14.3% of votes and 71 seats.

Turkish people go to ballot booths for general elections every four years.


/Trend/